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Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1909 Excerpt: ... VII THE BALLAD OF THE "CLAMPHER DOWN" 1892 IT was our war-ship Clampherdown Would sweep the Channel clean, Wherefore she kept her hatches close When the merry Channel chops arose, To save the bleached Marine. She had one bow-gun of a hundred ton, And a great stern-gun beside; They dipped their noses deep in the sea, They racked their stays and stanchions free In the wash of the wind-whipped tide. It was our war-ship Clampherdown Tell in with a cruiser light That carried the dainty Hotchkiss gun And a pair of heels wherewith to run From the grip of a close-fought fight. She opened fire at seven miles--As ye shoot at a bobbing cork--And once she fired and twice she fired, Till the bow-gun drooped like a lily tired That lolls upon the stalk. "Captain, the bow-gun melts apace, The deck-beams break below, 'T were well to rest for an hour or twain, And botch the shattered plates again." And he answered, "Make it so." She opened fire within the mile--As you shoot at the flying duck--And the great stern-gun shot fair and true, With the heave of the ship, to the stainless blue, And the great stern-turret stuck. "Captain, the turret fills with steam, The feed-pipes burst below--You can hear the hiss of the helpless ram, You can hear the twisted runners jam." And he answered, "Turn and go!" It was our war-ship Clampherdown, And grimly did she roll; Swung round to take the cruiser's fire As the White Whale faces the Thresher's ire When they war by the frozen Pole. "Captain, the shells are falling fast, And faster still fall we; And it is not meet for English stock To bide in the heart of an eight-day clock The death they cannot see." "Lie down, lie down, my bold A.B., We drift upon her beam; We dare not ram, for she can run: And dare ye fire another gun, And die in the...
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